This episode provides an extensive overview of the Bengali folk tradition known as Alakshmi Bidai (Banishing Misfortune), a ritual performed on the night of Kali Puja (Deepavali). This practice centers on symbolically removing Alakshmi, the older sister of the Goddess Lakshmi, who represents poverty, misfortune, and discord, to welcome the auspicious presence of Lakshmi. The texts detail the mythological basis for Alakshmi being the counterpart to prosperity, often originating from the churning of the ocean, and explain the symbolic meaning of the ritual as transitioning from darkness to light. Furthermore, the sources describe the specific rules and customs of the ritual, including making idols from cow dung (for Alakshmi) and rice paste (for Lakshmi), cleaning the house thoroughly, and reciting chants to send Alakshmi away before conducting the main Lakshmi Puja.

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